Blade for a work vehicle

ABSTRACT

A blade for a work vehicle may include a front wall, a back wall, a first support, a second support, and a third support. The front wall may be for engaging material to be moved. The back wall may be positioned at a distance from the front wall. The first support may be positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall. The second support may be positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall. The third support may positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a blade for a work vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Blades may be attached to work vehicles, and used by the work vehicle to move material such as soil, aggregate, or trash.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a blade for a work vehicle may include a front wall, a back wall, a first support, a second support, and a third support. The front wall may be for engaging the material (e.g., soil, aggregate, trash) to be moved. The back wall may be positioned at a distance from the front wall. The first support may be positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall. The second support may be positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall. The third support may be positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the blade for a work vehicle may include a front wall, a back wall, and a support. The front wall may be for engaging the material to be moved. The back wall may be positioned at a distance from the front wall. The support may be positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall. The support may be enclosed in an interior volume of the blade bounded in part by the front wall and the back wall.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a blade for a work vehicle may include a front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a support. The front wall may be for engaging the material to be moved. The first side wall may be positioned at a first lateral end of the blade. The second side wall may be positioned at a second lateral end of the blade opposite the first lateral end. The top wall may be positioned at a first vertical end of the blade. The bottom wall may be positioned at a second vertical end of the blade opposite the first vertical end. The back wall may be positioned at a distance from the front wall so as to create a volume bounded at least in part by the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall, and the bottom wall. The support may be positioned within the volume and may be connected to the front wall and the back wall.

The above and other features will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a left side view of work vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front side of a blade for the work vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rear side of the blade.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear side of the blade with portions of a back wall and spacers removed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the blade cut along a section.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the blade.

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded view of the blade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates work vehicle 100, having blade 102, left track 104 (right track not shown), engine 108, and operator station 110. As used herein, “left” and “right” refer to the left and right sides of the operator when the operator is sitting within operator station 110 and facing blade 102. Work vehicle 100 is illustrated as a crawler, but may be any work vehicle to which a blade may be attached, such as a backhoe loader, excavator, motor grader, skid steer loader, skidder, or wheel loader, to name a few examples. Work vehicle 100 may be used to move material, such as soil, aggregate (e.g., sand, gravel, rock), and trash, from one location to another location, to create a flat area on top of the ground, or to sculpt particular features or grades onto the ground, to name but a few potential uses. Work vehicle 100 may move material by pushing or pulling it with blade 102.

Work vehicle 100 may be controlled by an operator located in operator station 110. The operator may command work vehicle 100 to move forward, move backward, and turn. In the case of work vehicle 100, those commands are sent to hydraulic pumps, driven by engine 108, which direct pressurized hydraulic fluid to hydraulic motors that turn left track 104 and the right track. Work vehicle 100 may be powered by engine 108, which may be a diesel engine.

Blade 102 is positioned at the front of work vehicle 100 and may be attached to work vehicle 100 in a number of different manners. In this embodiment, blade 102 is attached to work vehicle 100 through a linkage which includes a series of pinned joints, structural members, and hydraulic cylinders. This configuration allows blade 102 to be moved up and down relative to the ground, rotate around a vertical axis (i.e., an axis normal to the ground), rotate around a longitudinal axis (e.g., a fore-aft axis of work vehicle 100), and rotate around a lateral axis of work vehicle 100 (i.e., a left-right axis of work vehicle 100), as further described below with reference to FIG. 2. These degrees of freedom permit blade 102 to engage the ground at multiple depths and cutting angles. Alternative embodiments may involve blades with greater degrees of freedom, such as those found on some motor graders, and those with fewer degrees of freedom, such as “pushbeam” style blades found on some crawlers and blades which may only be raised, lowered, and rotated around a vertical axis as found on some excavators and skidders.

The operator may command movement of blade 102 from operator station 110. In the case of work vehicle 100, those commands are sent, including mechanically, hydraulically, and/or electrically, to a hydraulic control valve. The hydraulic control valve receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump, and selectively sends such pressurized hydraulic fluid to hydraulic cylinders based on the operator's commands. The hydraulic cylinders, which in this case are double-acting, are extended or retracted by the pressurized fluid and thereby actuate blade 102.

FIG. 2 illustrates blade 102, having front wall 200, back wall 202 (see FIG. 3 and associated description), top wall 204, bottom wall 206, left wall 208, and right wall 210. Depending on the context, blade 102 or front wall 200 may also be referred to as a moldboard.

Front wall 200 is positioned at the front of blade 102, and extends vertically and laterally so as to cover a majority of the front of blade 102. As used herein, the longitudinal direction refers the fore-aft direction of work vehicle 100, as shown by axis 201 a, the lateral direction refers to the left-right direction of work vehicle 100 as measured relative to an operator sitting in operator station 110 and facing blade 102, as shown by axis 201 b, and the vertical direction refers to the up-down direction of work vehicle 100 as measured relative to an operator sitting in operator station 110, as shown by axis 201 c. Blade 102 engages the material to be moved by work vehicle 100 when moving in a forward direction, for example soil, aggregate (e.g., sand, gravel, rock) and trash. In this embodiment, front wall 200 includes cutting edge 212. Cutting edge 212 is comprised of three pieces removably fastened near the bottom edge of front wall 200 approximately parallel to the portions of front wall 200 to which they attach, so as to provide an adjustable wear part for blade 102. Cutting edge 212 may wear faster than the remainder of blade 102 due to the forces and abrasion it is subject to as the leading edge of blade 102. Once worn, cutting edge 212 may be removed from blade 102 and replaced, which may allow blade 102 to last longer than if front wall 200 were subject to the forces and abrasions experienced by cutting edge 212. Cutting edge 212 may also be replaced with a part of a different design or material which may perform better, last longer, or be more cost effective.

Front wall 200 is comprised of multiple members which are formed, for example by an industrial press forming curves into a sheet of material, and joined to create the shape shown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, front wall 200 may be formed from a single sheet of a material (e.g., steel, iron, polymer) which is formed to achieve the proper shape. In other embodiments, front wall 200 may be fashioned from separate sheets of material which are individually formed and then joined together (e.g., by welds, adhesives, fasteners) or are joined together and then formed after such joining Front wall 200 is curved in multiple directions so as to create a concave surface. This curvature may help material being pushed by blade 102 to stay in the middle of blade 102 and allow material cut by cutting edge 212 to flow upwards across front wall 200 and begin to curve back onto itself. This may reduce the amount of material which flows past left wall 208, past right wall 210, or over top wall 204 when work vehicle 100 is moving in a forward direction, keeping such material in front of blade 102 where work vehicle 100 may maintain control of the material. Blades of alternative embodiments may take on different shapes, such as a blade which is substantially flat.

Left wall 208 is positioned on the left side of work vehicle 100 at a lateral end of blade 102 and right wall 210 is positioned on the right side of work vehicle 100 at a lateral end of blade 102 opposite the left wall 208. Left wall 208 is approximately parallel to right wall 210, and both of left wall 208 and right wall 210 are approximately perpendicular to the lateral center of front wall 200. Left wall 208 and right wall 210 are each affixed to front wall 200, back wall 202, bottom wall 206, and top wall 204 by a weld, thereby creating a box-like structure with an interior volume. In other embodiments, left wall 208 and right wall 210 may not be substantially flat but may instead be curved or include angled surfaces, or each of left wall 208 and right wall 210 may be splayed so as to not be substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the lateral center of front wall 200. For example, left wall 208 and right wall 210 may be oriented so that their respective normals cross each other a distance in front of front wall 200.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view oriented from the bottom, back, and right of blade 102. Back wall 202 is comprised of a flat member positioned toward the rear of blade 102. In this embodiment, back wall 202 is a comprised of two flat sheets of steel joined together by welds. Back wall 202 is positioned at a distance from front wall 200, creating an interior volume in the space between front wall 200, back wall 202, top wall 204, bottom wall 206, left wall 208, and right wall 210 (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 6). Back wall 202 is affixed to top wall 204, bottom wall 206, left wall 208, and right wall 210, for example by welds in this embodiment or by being included in the same formed sheet of steel in other embodiments. As a result, this interior volume is enclosed, or surrounded or bounded, by front wall 200, back wall 202, top wall 204, bottom wall 206, left wall 208, and right wall 210, forming a box-like structure. Back wall 202 is positioned at a distance from front wall 200, which results in no portion of front wall 200 directly contacting back wall 202, and the minimum distance between the two is a longitudinal distance at approximately the vertical and lateral center of blade 102, where the curve of front wall 200 brings it closest to back wall 202.

A number of other components are attached to blade 102 in addition to front wall 200, back wall 202, top wall 204, bottom wall 206, left wall 208, and right wall 210. For example, pin 300, pin 302, pin 304, pin 306, pin 308, and pin 310 are each inserted into a clevis which in turn is affixed to back wall 202 by welds. These pins provide pivotal connection points for the linkage, including pinned joints, structural members, and hydraulic cylinders, which attach blade 102 to work vehicle 100 and actuate blade 102. Force, such as the forces generated when moving material with blade 102, may thereby be transmitted between blade 102 and the remainder of work vehicle 100. Mount 312, mount 314, and mount 316 each comprise a mounting point available to fasten components to blade 102, such as receivers for use with a global navigation satellite system (GNSS). Gusset 318 is affixed to front wall 200 and affixed to bottom wall 206. Multiple gussets similar to gusset 318 are affixed to bottom wall 206 and front wall 200 in a line from left wall 208 to right wall 210. These gussets provide multiple paths for the transfer of force from front wall 200 to bottom wall 206 and the remainder of blade 102, thereby providing rigidity and strength to front wall 200, particularly in the area of cutting edge 212. Although positioned toward the rear of blade 102, back wall 202 is not the most rearward component of blade 102, as each of pin 300, pin 302, pin 304, pin 306, pin 308, and pin 310 are further rearward than back wall 202, to name just a few components further rearward. Similarly, although positioned toward the bottom of blade 102, bottom wall 206 is not the bottommost component of blade 102, as gusset 318 (and like gussets), a portion of front wall 200, and at least a portion of cutting edge 212 are below bottom wall 206.

FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway view of blade 102 with first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, fourth support 406, first spacer 408, and second spacer 410 in partial view. Portions of back wall 202, first spacer 408, and second spacer 410 have been removed. Each of first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406 is positioned between and connected to front wall 200 and back wall 202. Each of first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406 is positioned substantially parallel to bottom wall 206 and extends laterally across substantially all of blade 102. In this context, substantially parallel means within 5 degrees of parallel. In this embodiment, each of first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406 is a steel member connected to front wall 200 and back wall 202 by welds. In alternative embodiments, the supports may be connected to front wall 200 and back wall 202 by welds, fasteners, adhesives, or interlocking joints, to name but a few types of connections, and the supports may be indirectly connected to front wall 200 and back wall 202, for example through an intermediate component. Each of first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406 extend laterally from left wall 208 to right wall 210 across substantially all of blade 102. In alternative embodiments, each support may not extend entirely from left wall 208 to right wall 210 but instead may leave a gap between the support and left wall 208 or right wall 210, or multiple supports may be utilized to span this distance. In this embodiment, back wall 202 extends for the majority of the length (i.e., the lateral length) of first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406. In this embodiment, back wall 202 also covers the entirety of first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406, but in alternative embodiments it may cover only the majority of such supports.

First spacer 408 and second spacer 410 are positioned against back wall 202 and extend laterally the majority of the length from left wall 208 to right wall 210. First spacer 408 and second spacer 410 may be comprised of steel, and may be affixed to back wall 202, for example by welds, or may be fastened to back wall 202, for example via threaded fasteners, or may be affixed or fastened to first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406.

The view in FIG. 4 also illustrates that bottom wall 206 is a sheet of steel formed so as to create an L-shaped cross-section (i.e., formed so as to create a cross section with a leg, a bend, and another leg). Bottom wall 206 is positioned toward a vertical end of blade 102 opposite top wall 204. Bottom wall 206 is affixed to back wall 202 indirectly via welds to a portion of the steel plate from which it is formed and is also affixed to front wall 200 via welds.

First support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406 provide load paths between front wall 200 and back wall 202, enabling forces exerted upon front wall 200 to be transmitted through blade 102 to the remainder of work vehicle 100, including through pin 300, pin 302, pin 304, pin 306, pin 308, and pin 310. In this manner, first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406 provide stiffness and rigidity to the structure of blade 102, including by resisting the deflection of front wall 200 and back wall 202.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of blade 102 cut along a section identified in FIG. 3 so as to expose the interior volume within blade 102. Front wall 200, back wall 202, top wall 204, bottom wall 206, left wall 208, and right wall 210 (not shown) cooperate to form an enclosed volume within which each of first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406 are positioned. Additional components may also be positioned within this enclosed volume, such as member 500 which is positioned above first support 400 and substantially perpendicular to back wall 202 and extends from within the enclosed volume to outside the enclosed volume.

This configuration allows first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406 to provide rigidity and strength to blade 102, and front wall 200 in particular. Such a configuration may have a greater strength to weight ratio than alternative configurations which achieve their strength through increased thickness on front wall 200 or reinforcing members affixed to the back side of front wall 200.

First support 400 is a portion of a member with an L-shaped cross section, with first support 400 serving as a first leg affixed to front wall 200, a bend, and a second leg which is affixed to, and positioned flush with, back wall 202. By being affixed to front wall 200 and affixed to back wall 202, first support 400 provides a load path from front wall 200 to back wall 202. Front wall 200 is thereby fixed with respect to back wall 202, at least in part, via first support 400.

Second support 402 and third support 404 are each included in support assembly 503 which also includes leg 504, first bend 506, and second bend 508. In support assembly 503, second support 402 serves as a first leg affixed to front wall 200, leg 504 serves as a second leg affixed to and positioned flush against back wall 202, and third support 404 serves as a third leg affixed to front wall 200. First bend 506 is positioned on support assembly 503 between the first leg (i.e., second support 402) and the second leg (i.e., leg 504), and second bend 508 is positioned on support assembly 503 between the second leg (i.e., leg 504) and the third leg (i.e., third support 404). This configuration results in support assembly 503 having a C-shaped cross section.

In this embodiment, support assembly 503 is a formed piece of steel, but in other embodiments it may be comprised of different materials or of multiple components joined together such as by welds or fasteners. Alternative embodiments may include other configurations creating a C-shaped cross section (i.e., a cross section which is a majority enclosed but open on one side, such as that created by a leg, bend, leg, bend, and leg) or a V-shaped cross section (i.e., a leg, a bend, and a leg), such as would occur if second support 402 and third support 404 were separated by a single bend.

Fourth support 406 has a cross section without any bends, extending directly from an intersection with front wall 200 to an intersection with back wall 202. Fourth support 406 is affixed to front wall 200 and back wall 202, and is arranged with the formed sheet of steel which includes bottom wall 206 so as to create a box-shaped cross section. Alternative embodiments may have fewer supports or a greater number of supports than blade 102.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of blade 102 cut along the same section as FIG. 5. Front wall 200, back wall 202, top wall 204, bottom wall 206, left wall 208, and right wall 210 (not shown in FIG. 6) enclose the interior volume of blade 102 shown in FIG. 6, effectively surrounding first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406. In alternative embodiments, this interior volume may be substantially water-tight to resist water entering blade 102 such as from rain or the usage of blade 102 in standing water, as such water may increase the weight of blade 102 or corrode blade 102. In other embodiments, this interior volume may not be substantially water-tight, but blade 102 may instead be configured to allow such water to drain out of blade 102 through apertures placed at low points where water may collect within blade 102.

The front or forward longitudinal portion of first support 400 is positioned lower than the rear portion of first support 400, resulting in first support 400 sloping vertically upward from where it is affixed to front wall 200 toward where it is affixed to back wall 202. Conversely, the front longitudinal portion of second support 402 is positioned higher than its rear longitudinal portion, resulting in second support 402 sloping vertically downward from where it is affixed to front wall 200 toward where it is affixed to back wall 202. Third support 404, like first support 400, slopes vertically upward from where it is affixed to front wall 200 toward where it is affixed to back wall 202.

Distance 600 is the minimum distance between front wall 200 and back wall 202. In this embodiment, the length (i.e., the lateral length) of first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406 is more than ten times greater than distance 600.

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded view of blade 102. This view illustrates how first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406 are each positioned between front wall 200 and back wall 202. Further, it illustrates how each of first support 400, second support 402, third support 404, and fourth support 406 are positioned in an interior volume of blade 102 which is bounded by front wall 200, back wall 202, top wall 204, bottom wall 206, left wall 208, and right wall 210. Additional components may be added to blade 102, including additional components where a portion of the component is positioned within the same interior volume, such as member 500.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is not restrictive in character, it being understood that illustrative embodiment(s) have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected. Alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may devise their own implementations that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A blade for a work vehicle comprising: a front wall for engaging material to be moved; a back wall positioned at a distance from the front wall; a first support positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall; a second support positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall; and a third support positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall.
 2. The blade of claim 1, wherein the first support and the second support are included in a first support assembly, the first support assembly further comprises a first bend, and the first bend is positioned on the first support assembly between the first support and the second support.
 3. The blade of claim 2, wherein the first support assembly further comprises a leg and a second bend, the first bend is positioned on the first support assembly between the first support and the leg, the leg is positioned on the first support assembly between the first bend and the second bend, and the second bend is positioned on the first support assembly between the leg and the second support.
 4. The blade of claim 1, wherein the first support and the second support are included in a first support assembly and the first support assembly has a V-shaped or C-shaped cross section.
 5. The blade of claim 1, wherein the lateral length of each of the first support, second support, and third support is at least twice the minimum distance between the front wall and the back wall.
 6. The blade of claim 5, wherein the lateral length of each of the first support, second support, and third support is at least ten times the minimum distance between the front wall and the back wall.
 7. The blade of claim 1, wherein the first support, second support, and third support are enclosed in an interior volume of the blade.
 8. The blade of claim 7, wherein the interior volume is substantially water-tight.
 9. The blade of claim 7, wherein the interior volume is bounded at least in part by the front wall, the back wall, a first side wall positioned at a first lateral end of the blade, a second side wall positioned at a second lateral end of the blade opposite the first lateral end, a top wall positioned at a first vertical end of the blade, and a bottom wall positioned at a second vertical end of the blade opposite the first vertical end.
 10. The blade of claim 7, wherein the interior volume is bounded at least in part by the front wall, the back wall, a first side wall affixed to a first lateral end of the front wall, a second side wall affixed to a second lateral end of the front wall opposite the first lateral end, a top wall affixed to a first vertical end of the front wall, and a bottom wall affixed to a second vertical end of the front wall opposite the first vertical end.
 11. The blade of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first support, second support, and third support is affixed to the front wall and the back wall.
 12. The blade of claim 11, wherein each of the first support, second support, and third support is affixed to at least one of the front wall and the back wall.
 13. The blade of claim 11, wherein the first support is a first leg included in a first support assembly, the first support assembly comprises the first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, the first leg is affixed to the front wall, the second leg is positioned on the first support assembly between the first leg and the third leg, the second leg is affixed to the first leg and the third leg, and the third leg is affixed to the front wall.
 14. A blade for a work vehicle comprising: a front wall for engaging material to be moved; a back wall positioned at a distance from the front wall; and a support positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall, the support enclosed in an interior volume of the blade bounded at least in part by the front wall and the back wall.
 15. The blade of claim 14, wherein the interior volume of the blade is substantially water-tight.
 16. The blade of claim 14, wherein the interior volume is bounded at least in part by the front wall, the back wall, a first side wall positioned at a first lateral end of the blade, a second side wall positioned at a second lateral end of the blade opposite the first lateral end, a top wall positioned at a first vertical end of the blade, and a bottom wall positioned at a second vertical end of the blade opposite the first vertical end.
 17. The blade of claim 14, wherein the interior volume is bounded at least in part by the front wall, the back wall, a first side wall affixed to a first lateral end of the front wall, a second side wall affixed to a second lateral end of the front wall opposite the first lateral end, a top wall affixed to a first vertical end of the front wall, and a bottom wall affixed to a second vertical end of the front wall opposite the first vertical end.
 18. The blade of claim 14, wherein the support is a first support, the blade further comprises a second support and a third support, the second support is positioned between the front wall and the back wall, the second support is connected to the front wall and the back wall, the third support is positioned between the front wall and the back wall, the third support is connected to the front wall and the back wall, and the second support and the third support are enclosed in the interior volume of the blade bounded in part by the front wall and the back wall.
 19. A blade for a work vehicle comprising: a front wall for engaging material to be moved; a first side wall positioned at a first lateral end of the blade; a second side wall positioned at a second lateral end of the blade opposite the first lateral end; a top wall positioned at a first vertical end of the blade; a bottom wall positioned at a second vertical end of the blade opposite the first vertical end; a back wall positioned at a distance from the front wall so as to create a volume bounded by the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall, and the bottom wall; and a support positioned within the volume, the support connected to the front wall and the back wall.
 20. The blade of claim 19, wherein the support comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, the first leg is affixed to the front wall, the second leg is positioned on the support between the first leg and the third leg, and the third leg is affixed to the front wall. 